In July 2023, a tax fraud case involving Shakira made headlines. At the time, the Colombian singer was accused by the public prosecutor of having “defrauded the tax authorities during the year on income tax and wealth tax”, to save more than 13 million euros between 2012 and 2014.
A few months later, in November 2023, the star had sealed an agreement with the Spanish prosecutor’s office, in exchange for the admission of her guilt and a fine of 7.3 million euros. Until now, Shakira, in the midst of a highly publicized divorce from Gerard Piqué, had not wished to speak publicly about the case, except via a statement stating: “I have made the decision to finally resolve this matter in the best interest of my children who do not want to see their mother sacrifice her personal well-being in this fight.” It is now done, and this time, the singer does not hesitate to go into detail.
A letter addressed to the Spanish press
This Thursday, September 5, 2024, Shakira sent a letter to the Spanish daily El Mundo, in which she returns to her decision to accept an agreement with the Spanish justice system. A decision taken to “protect” her children, she claims.
Video. Shakira’s Minute
“I want to leave my children the legacy of a woman who explained her reasons calmly and at her own pace, when she felt it was necessary, and not when she was forced to,” she explains to justify the long months that have passed before she speaks out. “I need them to know that I made the decisions I made to protect them, to be by their side and to continue my life. Not out of cowardice or guilt.” As a reminder, the Colombian singer had always denied having committed tax fraud, even though she had finally admitted her guilt in court.
A rant against Spanish justice
In her letter, Shakira now lashes out at the Spanish justice system, saying that the prosecution seemed “more interested in pillorying (her) than listening to her and hearing (her) reasons.” She also accused the government of fabricating a story to make it appear that she had defrauded them of millions of euros after officially moving to Spain. A choice made while she was at the time in a relationship with Gerard Piqué, and had chosen to put her career on hold to support the athlete.
“Travelling to Spain created many complications for me because it forced me to move away from my work centres. Every time I returned, I did it to make the relationship prosper, and not out of a “vocation to stay” in the territory”, she emphasises, specifying that, in 2011, she had spent 73 days in Spain. The minimum number of days to be considered a tax resident is 183. However, when she officially moved to Spain in 2015, the tax authorities would have demanded the equivalent of 10 years of taxes from her.
Today, Shakira claims to have “paid much more than she should have,” after agreeing to pay “unfair fines,” in the hope of finally being at peace. “No one can write my story for me. As with my songs, I sing to live again in peace, to turn the page.”
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